"adornment of the hardware"--query

[Gerald Cohen]

   My thanx again to the members who helped  me with "Patti farewell."  I
now have another query:  what does "adornment of the hardware" refer to in
the baseball context below:

  (_San Francisco Bulletin_, April 8, 1913, p.14, col. 1):

   "[Manager] Del is known to be at a loss as to what to do with Joe
Wagner.  Joe was at first threatened with an adornment of the hardware, but
then it became known that he was suffering from a growth on his leg which
necessitated removal and which was undoubtedly responsible for his slowness
at second.  Since his recovery he has been stinging the ball on the nose,
and there is a possibility he will prove a man of sterling worth to the
club."

----I suppose the answer is obvious, but I draw a blank.

-----------Gerald Cohen







gcohen at umr.edu